Granulocyte Adhesion and Diapedesis

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Description

The migration of leukocytes or WBCs (White Blood Cells) from the vascular system to sites of pathogenic exposure is a key event in the process of inflammation. The inflammatory reaction enables the organism to defend itself against infectious microbes. The entry of leukocytes into sites of injury or infection requires molecular mechanisms which enable the leukocytes to recognize such sites from within the vasculature and to form contact with the endothelium in order to exit and migrate through the blood vessel wall. Recognition as well as contact formation is mediated by several cell adhesion molecules which act in a sequential manner in concert with regulatory mediators such as the Chemokines. The cell adhesion molecules which are involved in this process [...]